Letter: Why some federal prisoners being released must be given job training

In the July 14 Greenville News, it was reported that the "First Step Act” will allow the freedom of “about 2,200” inmates in federal prisons.

It seems that these inmates were convicted of “low-level” crimes such as drug offenses and were given long sentences that have now been considered unreasonable and so they have been commuted. This appears to be a good thing.

However, keeping them in prison for any length of time and then letting them out without any means to provide a livelihood only forces them into a criminal direction in order to survive.

Therefore, if we admit that it was wrong to incarcerate them for a long time, then we should make sure that they have a way to survive when they are released. I think we have an obligation and responsibility to provide some type of job training and actually find a placement for when they are released so that they will immediately have a way to provide for their livelihood.

Otherwise we should keep them in prison awaiting our ability to release them.

Now…..that won’t be acceptable, since we have admitted being wrong for putting them in prison for an unreasonable period. So, those eligible should be moved to a low-security facility where they can be trained for a vocation and secure a job before (they are) released. This is the only right thing to do.